Courtney Herz Writeshttps://courtneyherz.wordpress.com
Creating a Successful Freelance LifeMon, 05 Feb 2018 18:49:56 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngCourtney Herz Writeshttps://courtneyherz.wordpress.com
If it Smells Like a Fish, It’s Probably Phishinghttps://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/if-it-smells-like-a-fish-its-probably-phishing/
https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/if-it-smells-like-a-fish-its-probably-phishing/#respondWed, 25 Oct 2017 19:17:59 +0000http://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/?p=3761Money. We all need it, we all want it, and when there’s an opportunity to earn it, we tend to jump. Sometimes too quickly. Sometimes even when everything in our body is saying “RUN”.

Freelancing is a rough world sometimes, and we do what we can to get by until we can build a sustainable business. But sadly, there are people out there who know that and take advantage of it.

This is a post I should have written a long time ago, but I’m sharing it now because of something that recently happened to me.

I’m sharing this advice with you because I want you to be able to protect yourself in the freelance world. Being a freelancer is an amazing thing, but it also comes with its share of dangers. Phishing scams and tricky “clients” are, unfortunately, a part of the landscape, and I want to share this with you so that you can be aware and alert.

What Happened

I was on a job site, and I was approached by a would-be client to submit a proposal for their job opening. No problem. Very normal. I submitted the proposal and was told they wanted to hire me. They asked me to please Skype this certain individual, who, apparently, was the editor of this “company”. Now while you’re not really supposed to take any conversations off-site on most of these job sites, it’s pretty typical to be asked for your Skype info anyway, just because it’s a lot easier to message there than it sometimes can be on the job site platforms. Because of this, I wasn’t immediately alerted to anything suspicious.

I go over to Skype and start speaking with this individual. I then get an email from the job site saying my proposal was declined. So I asked the person I was speaking with what was up. He said they just liked to work off-site because it was more money for the freelancers and fewer fees for them. While totally against policy, people often ask you to do that. However, I usually decline, and the rest of the story will explain why.

I informed the client that I really preferred to keep any jobs I acquired on job site platforms on the platform. He said that was all well and good, we could start a job on the site later, but he wanted to hammer out the details. Also, could he please send me some information and a payment schedule to agree to.

I said sure, as long as we’ll be taking the job back to the job platform.

Something Fishy This Way Swims

Now, this is where everything got a bit odd. And by a bit odd I mean giant red flags with screaming witch sounds accompanying them odd. He sends me this file, and it won’t open. I try converting it to a PDF, and my converter – which recognizes everything – didn’t recognize the file type.

Red flag number one.

So I asked the guy if he could please send the payment schedule in a regular format, like a .docx or a PDF. He keeps trying to get me to open the file, and after explaining three times that the file is basically obsolete, he did send me a payment schedule via a Word document.

And that’s when I knew who I was dealing with.

See, when I was newer in the business, I’d accepted a job very similar to this one. The conversation had gone pretty much the way this one was going. And after sending a PayPal request (because they wanted to pay me half up front), they disappeared, never paid me, and about a week later my PayPal account was compromised.

And by compromised, I mean somebody stole $100 and used it to purchase content on a cheap mill site.

Yeah. It took me almost six months to get PayPal to finally believe me that I didn’t make that purchase.

About that time, the guy tries to send me more files. He keeps encouraging me to disable my antivirus (yeah, I bet) because it’s probably just not recognizing the format, and if I’d just disable it to receive the file it would be fine.

I asked him why on earth I would ever consider disabling the software that protects me. He kept persisting.

The Plot Thickens

Oh, yeah, it gets worse. So about that time, the job site emails me a mass email saying I may have downloaded Malware. If you’re not familiar, that’s basically code for a nasty computer virus that sends all your most pertinent information to a degenerate thief. You know, like the guy I was talking to.

I did a full computer scan, sent my job site the screenshot, and gave them all the information I had on these people. They were amazing and worked with me for about an hour to try to get as much information as possible on these people.

The Lesson

The last time I encountered these folks it was a woman who contacted me and she sent me a regular document. A standard Word document that clearly had Malware in it. Most of these people aren’t as blatantly obvious as the guy who asked me to turn off my antivirus. Most of the time, they send you totally reasonable-looking documents and requests, and by the time you realize that something is very wrong, they have what they need, and you’re left fighting your way back from identity theft.

That’s why it’s so important to heed those early warning signs. The ones that might not even register with you as warning signs if you’re not used to working in the freelance space or on a particular site.

For the record, I think Upwork is one of the best job board sites I’ve worked with. If you know how to play it right, you can find some really decent work, and they are absolutely committed to making sure you don’t get screwed over. That’s very rare in the freelance space. Most of these sites are about money and couldn’t care less if you got screwed over or not.

However, no matter how great your platform (or even if you’re finding jobs via B2B marketing), you need to know the signs of a phishing scam. These fishy folks are not the first people I’ve dealt with, but they’re pretty sophisticated. They got me once, and that was after I’d been working as a freelancer for four years.

So. Here are the signs that somebody might be up to something. If you learn to cast a suspicious eye towards this kind of behavior, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.

Asking to Work Off-Site – This isn’t always a red flag. Like I said, some people honestly just want to work off-site for the initial conversation because it’s easier to access. That’s usually okay, but be careful. Never download anything or send information to someone you’ve never worked with before the first time they ask you to work off-site.

Super Fast Acceptance – This company “hired” me within about an hour of my proposal. To a new (or even experienced) freelancer, that can feel like hitting the jackpot. Sometimes you do get hired quickly. But if there are a lot of proposals for the job and they’re hiring you within an hour, you should definitely think twice about that. Chances are, they’ve “hired” everyone. But you won’t be able to see that because they’re “hiring” them off-site. Sneaky.

Offers That Sound Too Good to Be True – Offering to pay you half up front before you do any work? Before they’ve even given you an assignment? Paying you way more than anyone else on the job site has ever offered for similar work? Yeah, think twice. Again, it might be legitimate, but you still need to ask questions and be careful. You know what they say. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Requests to Send You Files – Okay, obviously you’re going to have to accept files. However, I strongly encourage you to suggest a shared document, such as a Google Doc or something shared in Dropbox. These sites will scan your documents and will usually catch viruses before they will let you open them. Another option for working on job sites is to simply insist that all file transfers happen on-site. If they’re not okay with that, you should be worried.

Contracts and Agreements Without Identifying Information – The “contract” they sent me, or rather the payment schedule and agreement, had no company name. No letterhead. No email address. Nothing. It was just a hastily thrown-together Word document that looked pretty crappy. That’s often a sure sign that you’re not working with a legitimate company. They don’t care about looking professional because they’re not actually giving you work anyway, they just want to steal your information. That should be a glaring red light.

Typos and Misspellings in the Contract – Again, this “contract” was full of errors and typos. Not only is that totally unprofessional, but it shows that you’re probably dealing with a relatively shady outfit.

Asking You to Do Weird Things – Disable your firewall. Turn off your antivirus. Please pose with this monkey. Whatever it is they’re asking you to do, if it sounds like it’s something that’s out of the ordinary, unprofessional, or could potentially harm you, don’t do the thing. But if you do pose with a monkey, please send me a photo so we can laugh at you.

There are other things you should watch out for, but these are the commonly used tactics and red flags that come to mind. Obviously, some of these could be reasonable, legitimate requests. But if enough of these red flags pile up or things start to feel weird, back away.

So What Should You Do?

I’ve told you what to avoid and what to watch out for, but what can you do proactively to make sure you’re staying as safe as possible and only taking legitimate work? I’m so glad you asked.

Follow Site Rules – If you’re working on a job site, follow their rules. Most of the time, they’re in place for your protection. Don’t work off-site, keep transactions and file transfers on-platform, and don’t break any of their terms and conditions. Not only could you risk being banned from the platform, but you could risk identity theft and other dangerous schemes if you break their rules. For work that you obtain on-site, you’re only protected as long as you’re following their rules. You break the rules, and you’re on your own.

Do Your Research – If you’re pitching to companies on your own and building your own brand (which I do recommend), research the companies you’re pitching to. You should be doing this anyway if you want to formulate a personalized pitch. But make sure that you’re not just emailing random companies from a list without making sure they’re legitimate, well-regarded companies.

Be Aware of Solicitation – A lot of these companies don’t just hide out on job sites. They also look for freelancer websites and send random emails offering jobs or gigs. (Also, they call it a gig. I mean, sure, maybe some people say that. If you’re…toting a guitar and speakers. But professionals in this industry understand that it’s a job, or a project, not a gig.) A lot of these solicitation emails are phishing scams. Never download any attachments from people you don’t know. Ask for a link to a Google Doc. Follow standard procedures for staying safe online and you should be able to avoid these phishing emails.

They Boss You Around – Now, I’m not talking about your oft-encountered client who thinks they own you because they’re hiring you. That happens, even with legitimate companies. I’m talking about people who want to hire you and start throwing out demands before they ask any questions. They’re hiring you. You’re the expert. And it’s your business. So you should be the one explaining your process, how things work, and answering any questions they might have. Of course, they’ll have requests. I mean, they have to tell you what they want. But if the first thing out of their mouth is “Here’s our payment terms, sign this contract with us, and write these articles by yesterday,” then you need to run. That’s not how this works. And professionals know that.

Get an Up-front Payment – This isn’t necessarily true with job sites because you’re usually protected by some kind of escrow system. However, if you’re marketing yourself and finding your own clients via B2B marketing, emailing, etc., I highly recommend you get a down payment. I can’t tell you the number of times I was screwed over in my early days because I didn’t get a down payment, the client got their content, and I never saw a dime. Professionals expect to negotiate with you, to take direction from you, and to pay a down payment. You can debate over how much that should be, but legitimate companies hiring freelancers understand the need for a down payment and won’t argue about it.

What it really boils down to is paying attention to your gut. If you feel like something is off, it’s off. And if you feel like you’re being taken advantage of, you probably are. Never take jobs out of desperation. I don’t care if you have a penny in your bank account and you need money yesterday (I’ve been there), you can’t act like you’re desperate when you find work or you’ll be taken advantage of.

Phishers know that many of us are struggling, that it takes time to build up a business, and that we’re glad for any work we can find. They take advantage of that, and it’s disgusting. But that’s why you have to act like you don’t need them when you go to market. Desperation is easily identifiable, so pull out your acting skills and do business like a boss. It’s the only way to find the real clients who will pay you real money and treat you like a real business owner.

Hope this helped you in some way. Do you have any phishing scam horror stories? Share them in the comments. Let’s exchange advice, red flags, and best practices so we can help each other stay safe in the freelancing world!

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]]>https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/if-it-smells-like-a-fish-its-probably-phishing/feed/0Handsome man with money over gray backgroundcourtneyherzDon’t Let Setbacks Become Spiralshttps://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/10/16/dont-let-setbacks-become-spirals/
https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/10/16/dont-let-setbacks-become-spirals/#respondMon, 16 Oct 2017 15:44:35 +0000http://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/?p=3719Read More]]>I recently started using a scheduling system to map out my day. Why? Because I have a lot of projects to work on, and time management is not something that comes naturally to me. I have a slightly obsessive personality in that once I start a task, I want to complete it. And I won’t stop until it’s done.

As you might imagine, that doesn’t bode well for all-around productivity.

I suppose it wouldn’t be so bad if I only had one thing to work on. But when is that ever realistic? Even if you’re only running one business or you’re exclusively writing eBooks for your freelance living, you still have to do more than one thing a day.

Enter, the Schedule

After taking the opportunity to realize that my business life was quickly becoming a series of epic failures, I knew I had to take quick action and develop a schedule that hit all the projects I work on regularly. From my branding, marketing, and design company to helping freelancers to fiction to art, everything is covered, and I do something towards each of those goals each day.

Today is Day One. And in true form, the Universe saw that I was getting things together, looked at Luck, and said: “Hold my beer.”

Oh, yeah. I woke up to find out that my email autoresponder wasn’t working, all of the links to my website were sending people to generic search engines, if someone did sign up for the email list they were added but then sent to a site that no longer exists, and now I can’t do any marketing for that business until I figure out why the links are redirecting.

That, folks, happened within the first hour of my day, and that’s only for one business!

When You Just Want to Give Up and Cry

We all have days like this. You’ve had them. I’m having one. And we’ll all experience them again. It’s a part of life. Am I kind of freaking out over the fact that after 100 hours of work building a brand I can’t market it because of errors I don’t know how to fix?

Uh, yeah.

But does that mean I stop working?

No. But that’s the temptation, isn’t it? Sure, it’s only 8:00 in the morning, but obviously, the entire day is worthless because this one thing is a mess. Or, on the contrary, maybe I should spend ALL day fixing this one issue.

Whenever we encounter setbacks, the temptation is either to give up or dig in until it’s fixed. But neither of those options is necessarily productive. In some cases, it’s best to keep moving through your schedule and return to the issue later.

The Fine Line Between Perseverance and Procrastination

I know what you’re thinking. Putting off a problem until the end of the day sounds a lot like procrastination. It sounds a lot like running from your problems.

And you wouldn’t be faulted for thinking that.

However, there’s a fine line between perseverance and procrastination. I have ish to do today, and I absolutely cannot afford to spend six hours tackling a problem. Not only will I wind up more stressed because I’ll have gotten behind on everything else I needed to do, but in this case, I don’t know how to fix it. Reloading pages and clicking links that I know don’t work aren’t going to help me.

So, I posted on Facebook asking anybody with tech experience if they could help me figure out what was wrong. I’m going to move on with my day, get everything else done, and then return to this item. I’ll see what people had to say, and I’ll fix it.

But when I return to it tonight, I’ll have a clear head, less stress (since everything else will be done), and I’ll be able to give it my full attention. In that environment and with that mindset, I’ll be able to do far more to solve the issue than I’ll be able to do frustrated, stressed, and freaking out over getting further behind.

If you’re putting it off so you can watch cat videos on YouTube, or you’re avoiding a problem you know how to fix, then yes. You, my friend, are procrastinating.

But if you’ve honestly hit a wall, ask for help, move on, and return to it when you’re in a better frame of mind.

I hope this advice has helped you out. Have you ever run into days like this? How did you handle it?

Don’t forget, I’m still working on a course for new or struggling freelancers, and I’d love to know what you’d like to see. You can take the survey here: it’s only a few questions and takes about two minutes. Thanks!

I wanted to take a moment to give you an update and ask for your feedback. I’m considering creating a course that will take you through the process of starting, developing, marketing, and running your freelance writing business. However, I want to know if a) that’s something you’d be interested in, and b) if it is, what you’d like to see. After all, this is just for you!

If you wouldn’t mind, please take a few minutes to answer the five questions below. It will really help me find out if this is something you’re interested in and how I can make it the best possible course for you.

Thanks so much! I’ll be back soon with the next installment of the client negotiation series.

]]>https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/something-just-for-you/feed/0Beautiful young woman standing and holding gift boxescourtneyherzNegotiating with Clients: Part 2 – The Verbiage of Negotiationshttps://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/negotiating-with-clients-part-2-the-verbiage-of-negotiations/
https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/06/22/negotiating-with-clients-part-2-the-verbiage-of-negotiations/#respondThu, 22 Jun 2017 19:50:53 +0000http://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/?p=3606After a very long absence (*insert apology here*), we’ll get on with the Negotiating with Clients series and talk about the words you’ll hear when hammering out deals with your clients. You might think this topic couldn’t possibly warrant an entire post, but you’d be surprised.

Paying attention to words is always important. Whether it’s on a contract, a job description, or in client negotiations, the words you hear and use often carry meaning that’s different from your initial interpretation. In other words, don’t be fooled and don’t lead people astray.

This is getting confusing. Let’s just jump into the terms and phrases you should be aware of. I’m confident by the time you’re done reading this, you’ll understand what I mean.

What to Listen For

Let’s start our discussion talking about what you should listen for during negotiations. If you hear these words or phrases, stop and take a moment to consider their implications before moving forward in a particular direction.

I Might Be Willing to Consider

Be careful here. This sounds like you’re getting a job. It sounds like the client is interested. In fact, the client might actually be interested. But you need to get a lot more information before you proceed as though they are. The problem, however, is that most people jump to the conclusion that a deal is about to happen and proceed accordingly. However, you could be wasting a lot of time pursuing that course.

For an example, let’s say you tell the prospective client that you’ll be able to write all the content they need for $3,000 and have it back to them in three weeks. If they respond with “I might be willing to consider $2,500,” your initial response might be “Great, they want to hire me for $2,500”.

But hold your horses, there. You have some questions to ask first.

“What would make you willing to move forward at the $2,500 price point?” should be your first question. Let’s say your client says “I’d be willing to pay $2,500, but only if I can have it back in a week.”

If you can’t meet that deadline, you have a problem. (If it were me, I’d say there were multiple problems with this statement, but let’s just stick to the topic for now.)

Now let’s say you had proceeded without asking that question. You might have gone through several more rounds of communication and/or another hour of hashing out details before the client finally threw in that she wanted it back in a week. That’s wasted time for both of you.

Sometimes you can follow a “might be willing to consider” statement up with “Great. What’s the next step?” or “Perfect. Let’s move forward.” Either of these responses will help you figure out if the client is actually serious, or if they’re using the “might be willing to consider” line to dissuade you or buy some more time.

If the client seems unsure after a “might be” statement, I’d suggest giving them one or two additional options that are centered around whatever they might consider (be it a shorter turnaround time, a lower rate, etc.) and tell them you’ll check in with them in a week. Of course, if you’re not willing to do the work for whatever they’re “considering”, the negotiations are pretty much over anyway.

The point is, figure out the specifics as soon as you can and try to figure out if the client really wants to move forward or not. The faster you figure those things out, the faster you can decide whether the project is for you or if it’s not happening. That means you can get back to business faster and move on.

Comparable

I won’t belabor the point here because the entire first post in this series was devoted to the idea of “comparable”. However, I’m linking it in this part because it’s super important. If you haven’t read that post, go do the thing. I’ll wait.

Possibility of Ongoing Work

Whenever I hear, on a job board or within client negotiations, the phrase “possibility of ongoing work”, all I tend to hear is “We’d like to pay you crappy wages.” Why? Because usually when a potential client says there’s a possibility of ongoing work it’s used to justify somewhat awful conditions. For example, “Our pay is $10 with the possibility of ongoing work.” Alternatively, “We’re starting out on a budget, but there’s the possibility of consistent work in the future.”

You do what you need to do, but if someone is telling me there’s a possibility of future work as though it’s some kind of door prize, I’m not interested. I wouldn’t do one article for $10, so why would I want to work for that rate on an ongoing basis?

Sometimes they’ll tell you that you have the possibility of receiving a bonus or that rates will increase in the future. To me, all of this is a giant nope. There are plenty of clients willing to pay decent rates without dangling the promise of future work in front of their freelancers just to get them to apply.

Be careful when you hear this. Sure, sometimes it’s just FYI. “Hey, if we like what you do we’d be interested in hiring you for future projects.” Super duper. But if it’s used to get you in the door and said in combination with some kind of shady comment about a low price or increasing fees, just run.

Looking to Hire a Team

Now, this one isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. If you’re hiring me and I’m going to be one of several freelancers you use and I’m making really decent wages, fine. But more often than not, being hired onto a “team of writers” means a)really low pay, b)dealing with ridiculous edits that don’t make sense, and c)doing a crapload of work for very little money (see point a). If someone is hiring a team of writers, you’re not writing for the client directly. You’re writing for an agency-type company who takes content requests from the actual clients and passes them onto their team of writers. That’s fine, but it usually means you’re writing for really low rates while your agency is making bank. Personally, I’d rather go find the clients myself and work for them one on one. That way, I control the process (i.e. people won’t make ridiculous edits to my work and make me look bad) and I get more of the money.

On a Trial Basis

Whenever I hear this, I feel like a rabbit that just smelled a wolf. Yes, sometimes there are legitimate reasons to hire someone on a trial basis. For instance, I recently completed a trial illustration for a client. They paid me for the illustration, but they paid several other artists, as well, and they will make a decision as to who they want to move forward with. That is completely legitimate.

However, sometimes if you hear that a client wants to hire you on a trial basis it means they want you to submit free work or work for a very, very low rate to “see if you’re a fit”. What typically ends up happening in those cases is that the client is hiring a TON of trial pieces, using them as their main content, and never making a “decision” on one particular writer. It’s a way to get a lot of content for dirt cheap, albeit while screwing over countless freelancers.

So, the moral of the story here is that if you’re getting paid well for your trial project, fine. But if “on a trial basis” is paired with crap wages, run, don’t walk, to the next opportunity.

Pay Upon Completion

If you’re working on a site like Upwork or Guru, you might have to wait until the end of the project to receive your payment. That’s fine, because on those sites you’re usually protected so if your client bails they still have to pay you.

However, that caveat out of the way, if a client you acquire through your own marketing efforts says they want to pay you upon completion – and they mean they only want to pay you upon completion – you should be wary.

I always request an up-front deposit from my clients, and legitimate clients won’t balk at this. It’s an industry practice that’s widely understood. You ask for a down payment, and it protects both of you. They don’t have to pay a whopping sum only to find out that you’re going to bail on them (not that you would, but some freelancers do, sadly enough). Additionally, you don’t have to work for free if they bail on you.

Agreeing to a “pay upon completion” clause is usually kind of a death sentence. I’d avoid it.

Words You Should Never Use

To be fair, it’s not just what you’re hearing that can sink a negotiation. Your clients have their interest, too, and you should pay attention to what you’re saying. The wrong word or phrase can send a client running, so it behooves you to be aware of what you’re really saying when you use the following words and phrases.

I Think

If you’re charging appropriately, your clients are paying you good money. You’d better know. I’m not saying it’s unacceptable in general conversation. But when it comes to the details of your contract and the project at hand, “think” tells your client that you’re not sure, inexperienced, and maybe unprofessional. Even if that’s not true, they have no way of knowing that. Here are a few examples of phrases that I hear freelancers say all the time – and that always make me cringe.

“I think I can do that for you.” (You don’t know what your skills are?)

“I think that’ll work.” (Usually in regards to a price. Again, you should know.)

“I think I can have that back to you by Monday.”

“I think you just .” (If you’re consulting, this is especially off-putting. Don’t give directions or instructions if you’re not sure.)

These are just a few examples, but you get the idea. Never come across as though you can’t do the job or you’re unsure about your business practices. I know confidence is hard, but fake it until it becomes natural. You’re consulting your clients and providing them with a service. You’d better be sure of what you’re asking them to pay you for.

I Charge

There are two ways in which this phrase, or a variation on it, can come back to bite you. First of all, saying “I charge…” makes it sound like you’ve come up with an arbitrary value for your work. It’s not a matter of you charging a certain rate, it’s a matter of what it takes to get the job done. For this reason, I like to say “This project will cost…” or “I’d have to ask for…” or some other phrase that indicates you’re charging a going rate, not just making up fees that don’t mean anything.

However, there’s another way that talking about what you charge can kill you – and that’s if you’re the first one to bring up a price. My favorite question is “What’s your budget for this project?” You’d be surprised what clients are expecting to pay — for better or worse.

If a client is willing to pay more than you were going to charge, sweet! If their bottom line is lower than you’d ever consider and they’re not willing to negotiate, a simple “That won’t work for me,” is all you need.

Now, most clients are very familiar with the disadvantages of being the first to quote a price. The old business adage “He who speaks first loses” is well-known in the business world. So, if you’re asked what your typical rates are for a project, there is a way to answer it without nailing yourself down to a price that might be too low.

“It depends on the project specifications. I’ve seen web development (or content or whatever) projects run anywhere from $300 to $5,000, so I’d have to know more about the project before I gave you a solid quote.”

The Takeaway

There’s more to say in each of these categories, but at least you have a starting point when it comes to considering the words you hear and use during client negotiations. If you sound like you’re unsure, inexperienced, or don’t know what you’re doing, your client will be able to smell it a mile away. Alternatively, if you’re not looking out for red flag terminology you could wind up wasting time, or worse – losing money, by falling for jobs that you probably should have passed up. Negotiation is a tricky thing, and in some ways it’s a game, but playing it can pay dividends down the road.

Do you have any words or phrases to add? Tell me in the comments!

Next time we’ll be talking about pricing and payments and how to talk about them during client negotiations.

I can’t believe it, but WordPress has informed me that today marks four years since I started this blogging journey. I’ve learned a lot, grown a lot, written a lot, and rambled a lot. But I hope I’ve also helped a lot.

My goal with this blog has always been to let you peek inside the life of a freelance writer, knowing that we’re all different, to see what I’ve learned and how I do things. I hope to provide something like a guide for you, but even if I’ve only managed giving you a minefield map and have helped you avoid some mistakes, that’s still awesome.

Thanks so much for sticking with me for these four years! Things are happening behind the scenes to get the A Freelance Writer’s Guide To site, books, and projects back up and running to offer even more options for those who are seeking information about this crazy, wonderful, completely wild lifestyle we call freelancing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to anyone who has liked, commented, subscribed, read, followed, purchased a book from, or connected with me or my posts in the last four years.

I appreciate each and every one of you, and if there’s anything I can do, write about, or create that could help you on your freelance journey, never hesitate to let me know.

Have a super day, go create something wonderful!

As always, until next time, happy writing!

]]>https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/05/05/its-my-blogoversary-4-years-already/feed/0Surprised businesswoman making selfie photocourtneyherzNegotiating with Clients: Part 1 – Unpacking the Term “Comparable”https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/31/negotiating-with-clients-part-1-unpacking-the-term-comparable/
https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/31/negotiating-with-clients-part-1-unpacking-the-term-comparable/#respondFri, 31 Mar 2017 19:59:01 +0000http://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/?p=3552Read More]]>We love our clients. They pay our bills, help us do what we love, and, for full-time freelancers, enable us to stay home and work in questionable clothing and messy buns. But clients are also running a business, and if you’re not careful you might fall for some of the things they tell you. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that clients are being dishonest. I’m just saying that they’re using the same sales and marketing tactics to get a good deal as we are to land them as clients.

Case in Point

Recently, I was in communication with a potential client who wanted to hire me for a very involved project. The project consisted of major SEO work, long-form content, a fair amount of research, and multiple hand-drawn illustrations. When I quoted my price, which was still lower than it should have been, I was told that other US-based writers were quoting far lower, so those rates were comparable, and could I come down in my price?

No. I couldn’t. I won’t. And you shouldn’t, either. And here’s why.

There’s something insidious in that little word “comparable”. What it seems to say is “You’re charging too much because other people in your general market are charging lower prices.” But comparable is a tricky thing. Is it truly comparable?

Comparable is Multi-Layered

The term comparable is a multi-layered term. Location alone is not what makes your bid comparable to someone else’s, or your work comparable to another freelancer’s. I have friends who are absolutely amazing photographers. Then there’s me, who couldn’t shoot a decent picture if a gun was to my head and my life depended on it. We’re in the same location, we both have cameras, but we bring very different skill sets to the table. Like…they have them and I don’t.

“But, Courtney, you wouldn’t bid for a photography job, so that’s not fair.”

Alright, fine. Take five writers, put them in a room with the same access to the same information using the same equipment. Give them the same assignment. Do you think you’d pay the same rate for each of the resulting deliverables?

If you said yes, think again.

Of all the layers of comparability that exist within that example, the one rogue layer that can never truly be calculated is individual skill and experience. Not to mention creative vision.

You Are Not Comparable

Don’t worry, I’m not going to go all special snowflake on you, but hear me out. You are you. Nobody else is you. Axiomatically, you cannot be compared to anyone else. What a client is willing to pay for largely depends on the very unique set of offerings that only you can bring to the table – creative vision, skill, experience, background knowledge, and work ethic. Those are yours. Everyone has them in some amount or another, but they’re not comparable.

Even among photographers, to use a previous example, creative vision is a big deal. Two photographers can look at the same scene but see completely different things, and that vision is what sets each of them apart from the other and from all other photographers in the world.

Value Your Unique Contributions and Don’t Settle

If somebody tries to tell you that other offers or proposals or pitches they’ve received are comparable just because you all do the same thing and you’re in the same location, take a step back and reflect on the implications of that statement before feeling like you’ve overstepped your bounds. Location and occupation are hardly enough to say that two freelancers are comparable in what they offer. You know what you bring to the table, and that confidence level and skill set should translate into a price tag. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you deserve.

Industry Standards Are a Real Thing

Most freelancers drastically underprice themselves because they’re either not aware that industry standards exist, or they lack the self confidence to charge them. For instance, if you’re writing direct mail copy for a client, the average (I said average) price in the industry is $84/hour, $2,839/project, or $2.17/word.

Let that sink in.

Ghostwriting without credit given to you? Average industry rates for that are $73/hour or $1.79/word.

I’ll give you a minute.

If you can handle more, check out the Writer’s Market publication How Much Should I Charge? Writer’s Market is $5/month and it’s the best money you’ll spend. This isn’t sponsored, I just really like their services. Also, you get access to the report when you sign up. You can find more of these rates in their report.

Industry standards are there for a reason. It’s so we don’t spend our careers screwing ourselves over while clients who want quality without paying for it try to convince us that we’re overcharging. Consult them. Learn them. Love them.

I’m Talking to Me

If you think by now I’ve got this confidence shit in the bag, you’d be wrong. Routinely, I work for less than I should. Sometimes far less. But as soon as that familiar feeling of being a hamster in a cage descends, I realize that I’m spending tons of time working for less-than-acceptable rates and because of that I have no time to pursue higher-paying work.

It happens to all of us. We need money, so when money’s dangled in front of us we think, sure, I’ll do it.

But here’s something to ponder. What are we doing to the industry if we continue to work for insulting rates? If we’re willing to spend 12 hours on a project and wind up getting paid less than minimum wage, we’re not only screwing ourselves, we’re screwing over every single freelancer trying to make an industry-standard living. And that’s wrong. It might sound harsh, but it’s the truth. So stop that shit.

Takeaway

You provide a high-value service. Your clients aren’t using this content just to read a nice article and throw it on their site. (If they are, by the way, don’t work for that client.) Your clients are using what you produce to make money. It’s marketing. All of it. Sure, they might spend $9,000 on a white paper. But if that white paper turns around and makes them $250,000 in investments or sales, it was well worth it. And decent content marketing should warrant results of that nature.

Here’s the thing. We do something that everyone thinks they can do. You’d never claim to be able to practice law or perform surgery (unless you’ve been trained, of course). Yet somehow everybody and their mother’s ex-boyfriend’s sister thinks they can write. The sad truth, however, is that most of them can’t. Especially not for SEO. Especially not for marketing purposes.

What we do is as much art as it is technique. Your clients are paying to get results. Fiscally verifiable and profit-creating results. That’s an enormous value, so charge accordingly.

In Part 2 we’ll discuss the verbiage of negotiations.

That’s all for this time. Until next time, happy writing.

]]>https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/31/negotiating-with-clients-part-1-unpacking-the-term-comparable/feed/0Signed contractcourtneyherzPrioritizing 101: Because Freelancing is F***ing Hardhttps://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/30/prioritizing-101-because-freelancing-is-fing-hard/
https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/30/prioritizing-101-because-freelancing-is-fing-hard/#commentsThu, 30 Mar 2017 16:07:54 +0000http://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/?p=3511I’m sitting here neck-deep in work, which is amazing. There’s no universe in which I would be upset about having a ton of work. Work is what makes me able to do things like pay bills and actually, for once in my life, take a vacation this spring. (A working vacation, no doubt, but still!)

That being said, freelancing is fucking hard. There, I said it. In my irreverent, straightforward, no-BS style, freelancing is no joke. Asana is my new best friend, and without it I’m fairly sure I’d be forever on the edge of a nervous breakdown. But even with amazing technology like Asana, it’s still up to me to prioritize (among other things), and prioritizing is not actually that easy.

For instance, I currently have a giant project that is an ongoing, weekly project. There are articles within the project I quite enjoy, and there are others that make me wish I was attempting a fire walk, because at least it would be over sooner. This is common in freelancing. You won’t love everything you do.

But it all has to get done. And that’s the challenge.

What Comes First?

If you’re staring down a giant list of to-dos, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, I have five simple rules you should follow. They’re the rules I follow, and they’ve helped me immensely when it comes to prioritizing my work.

#1: Do the Shit You Hate First

Oh, my goodness, is this ever true. If you’re looking at a project that makes you want to cry under a bridge with rum where the Wi-Fi can’t reach you, do that thing first. Why? Because you really want to get it out of the way, and because if you’re dreading it first thing in the morning, you’re certainly not going to be psyched to do it at midnight when you have 20% of the brainpower and far less caffeine in your system. Get it out of the way, breathe a sigh of relief, and move on. It’ll make the rest of your projects go so much more smoothly without having that cloud of doom and bore hanging over your head.

#2 Don’t Prioritize by Deadlines Alone

This one confuses a lot of people, but I stand by it. Sure, I have this giant multi-article project due tomorrow, but I did the short, easy article with the Saturday deadline first. Why? To get it out of the way. The less you have on your plate, the easier it is to focus on the big stuff without stressing. Now, obviously, don’t do this if for some reason you’ll miss a deadline by mixing up the order. But if you can do it without compromising promptness, I suggest knocking out the stuff you hate and the easy things first. Which leads me to my next point.

#3 The Cake Walk Orders Come Next

Right after “ish you hate” comes “stuff you could write in your sleep and win a Nobel Prize for”. If you’re looking at a really difficult project and two super easy ones, knock out the easy ones because that’ll open your schedule up to focus on the other stuff. It’ll be out of your hair and you can move on looking at a much cleaner deadline calendar.

#4 Big to Small

Alright. At this point, you’ve knocked out the crap you really didn’t want to do, the stuff that you could do in your sleep, and now you have to whittle that list down even further. What do you do next? I suggest prioritizing big to small. If you have a project that consists of an 8-article set totaling 8,000 words and a singular 300-word article, knock the 8,000-word article out first. This might seem to go against what I said earlier about doing the cake walk stuff, but small doesn’t necessarily mean easy, and a large project with high word counts make you feel like that cloud of doom is hanging over you again. Easy ones are fast to do, but small doesn’t necessarily mean easy. If they were easy, you’d probably have knocked them out by now. Capiche? Knock those giants out, and the smaller projects will go much faster, and you’ll be able to do them with way less stress hanging over you.

#5 Keep Marketing

Wait, what? Yeah, that’s right. On your list of prioritizing and completing all this great, wonderful work you have, don’t forget to keep pitching, prospecting, bidding on assignments, submitting proposals, and marketing your ass off. Because when you get to the end of a project and you realize you’ve forgotten to do this step, the panic you’ll feel is probably one of the worst feelings in business. It’s the visions of a month of Ramen and wondering if you can get Wi-Fi on the street. It’s confronting the harsh reality that you haven’t done the necessary work to keep your business afloat while rushing around doing all your work. You can skip this feeling by never forgetting to market yourself. Thinking “I don’t have time to craft that proposal” is a death sentence for your business. You make the time. If you’re serious about it, you find the time. Because you’ll need that work to come in when you’re done with what you have.

There you go. It’s my top five tips on prioritizing your business as a freelancer. It’s hard, I won’t lie. Asana is my best friend, and I’ll be writing another post about them. No, I’m not sponsored by them (or anyone else, currently), I just believe in the product and couldn’t do business without it.

How do you prioritize? Do you do it differently? What works for you? Share tips in the comments!

]]>https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/30/prioritizing-101-because-freelancing-is-fing-hard/feed/2Businesswoman sitting at the table with clock. Waiting for breakcourtneyherzEducating Clients on What You Do (Without Looking Like an Ass)https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/educating-clients-on-what-you-do-without-looking-like-an-ass/
https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/educating-clients-on-what-you-do-without-looking-like-an-ass/#respondWed, 08 Mar 2017 05:09:46 +0000http://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/?p=3472Read More]]>In the freelance writing industry, we as writers come across a unique challenge. It goes like this.

You go to a job board or to look at a request for a job, and the client is asking applicants (or you specifically) to tell them all about your experience in a given subject matter. The reason, ostensibly, is that they want you to write about that subject and assume that you can’t do it if you’re not a subject matter expert with years of personal experience.

This is a frustrating but common problem. If freelance writers only wrote about subjects in which they could obtain an advanced degree, we’d probably go broke. Our job is not to be a subject matter expert in anything except for how to research, write a kick-ass piece, and help our clients reach their content goals. Period.

The problem is that most clients don’t know this. For some reason, they think that if you’re going to write a legal article, you’d better be a legal expert – a lawyer, if possible.

N..no.

I’m sure it’s a common misunderstanding about what we do as writers. Most clients I’ve talked to about this are happy to hire me once they understand what I actually do. (And it’s not training sloths to perform in the circus. But I’ll research that shit for you.)

Once you realize that your client has fallen prey to this misunderstanding, another challenge arises: how to tell them without sounding like an asshole.

I mean, if a client asks you to write law articles and wants you to produce a law degree, it would be understandable if your initial reaction was “Are you f—-ing kidding me?”

Sadly, you cannot say that to your client. I mean you can, but they probably won’t be your client anymore, and you’d better hope they don’t talk about you to other potential clients. But they probably will.

So, how do you solve this problem?

I usually take the opportunity to be a consultant to my clients. I’m not there to make them feel stupid, I’m there to explain to them what we do as freelancers. So, when a client asks me to describe, in detail, all of my personal experience in the area of natural cures for various, unfortunate fungal infections, I try to reply like this:

While I’m not a subject matter expert on the given topic, I am still confident in my ability to do this job for you. As a freelance writer, my specialty isn’t in a subject area, it’s in doing excellent research and creating compelling, effective content, regardless of the subject matter. It’s part of why I love my job so much; I get to learn about lots of different things and help my clients in the process! Which particular fungal infections should I start researching for you?

It’s a nice way of being honest (I’m not a subject matter expert), educating them (but I’m not supposed to be one), and trying to move towards a hire (how can I get started on this for you?).

Feel free to use this as a template response until you get comfortable replying in your own way. Just…maybe change the fungal infection part.

Hopefully, this helps you go from “I’m sorry, what?” to “Oh, you misunderstood, let me help you clear that up” without any awkwardness. It’s always going to feel a little weird correcting a client, but if you do it like I outlined above, you still look really professional and can clear the air without any ill feelings.

I’ve used this explanation, or some variation of it, many times, and I’ve never had a client get mad at me. Most of the time, they’re either neutrally accepting or they say “Oh, then I have these topics, too!” So, you never know. By putting your foot down gently and professionally, you’re establishing yourself as an authority in your field – writing about all the things – and potentially opening yourself up to even more work.

Have you ever had to correct a client’s misunderstanding of what you do? (Or what you should be expected to do?) If so, talk about it in the comments section!

]]>https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/educating-clients-on-what-you-do-without-looking-like-an-ass/feed/0Emergency jobcourtneyherzWhy Agility is Your USP as a Freelancerhttps://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/why-agility-is-your-usp-as-a-freelancer/
https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/why-agility-is-your-usp-as-a-freelancer/#respondSun, 05 Mar 2017 19:35:34 +0000http://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/?p=3454Read More]]>If you’ve been freelancing for any length of time, you probably know the struggle well enough by now: finding a unique selling point (also called a unique selling proposition). Your USP is everything, because in a world where everyone thinks they’re a writer you’ve got to be able to stand out. It’s difficult, and sometimes it’s downright frustrating. However, I believe those of us who freelance actually have an excellent selling point: we’re agile.

Keep up with the business culture long enough and you’ll hear the word “agile” float around. Businesses want to be agile, agile project management is a thing…the word is everywhere. But what does it mean, and how can we harness it as freelancers?

Without a lengthy description, agile basically means efficient. Businesses are continuously looking for ways to cut costs, streamline their business structure, and get more done with less money and time investments required.

That, to my ears, sounds like gold for freelance writers. We’re the most agile thing they could want.

Think about it. Most companies don’t need enough content to warrant the full-time onboarding of a content creator or manager. It’s just not necessary. However, because many businesses have such a hard time finding qualified freelancers, they end up hiring someone anyway. It costs more money and is more of a drain on their business to hire this person than it would be to simply contract their content creation to freelancers like you and me.

At this point, you might be asking, “Why don’t they go find freelancers, then?” That’s a fair question. However, it has a surprising answer.

Freelance writers – qualified ones who really know what they’re doing – are actually difficult to find. Furthermore, many business owners don’t know where to start, and even if they did they’re so busy trying to conduct all the other necessary functions on which their business depends that they don’t have the time.

Simply put, finding a freelancer is either too difficult or it falls through the cracks.

That’s why I find it so hard to believe when freelancers say that they’re afraid of contacting businesses to pitch their services. Why? Most of these businesses would be happy to find that a qualified, professional freelancer landed in their lap overnight.

Back to pitching yourself as agile, though. You don’t have to use the word if you don’t want to, but you should bring up the fact that hiring you to write content as needed helps them streamline their business and cut costs. That kind of language tells business owners that you’re thinking of the value you can add to their organization instead of just begging for work.

I’ve seen examples of actual pitches to business owners by freelancers who essentially said, “Please hire me because I need work.” It’s not your client’s job to feel sorry for you and pay you because you’re struggling. That’s just unprofessional, and it doesn’t put you very high on the list of people they’re likely to call if they need a freelancer.

By pointing out that you’ve thought about their needs and feel that your services will be of help to them, you’re making the case that not only are you a professional freelancer with writing skills, but you’re aware that adding value to their organization is a real thing and something they’re looking for.

Hopefully, this helps you the next time you go to pitch your services to a business owner or content manager.

Have you used this USP before? How did it work for you? Let us know in the comments!

Until next time,

Happy Writing!

]]>https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/why-agility-is-your-usp-as-a-freelancer/feed/0rainbow umbrella conceptcourtneyherzWhy I Do My Freelance Writing Research on Private Browsershttps://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/why-i-do-my-freelance-writing-research-on-private-browsers/
https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/why-i-do-my-freelance-writing-research-on-private-browsers/#commentsSun, 20 Nov 2016 07:59:49 +0000http://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/?p=3443Read More]]>Calm down, folks, it’s not as scandalous as it seems. But today’s topic is something that you might not have thought about before, and it’s something you should be aware of. As a disclaimer, I’m not saying you have to conduct your research on private browsers. If you’ve been around the blog very often you know that I’m not a huge fan of telling you that you have to do anything. Eat your cereal with orange juice instead of milk. Wear blue eye shadow. Date that dude online whose profile states that he’s an “entrepreneur” and has no photos. Leave the house without pants. You can do anything you want to do. Don’t let me inhibit your freedom and feeling of entitlement. Sure, you can do your research on a regular old browser. But, similar to some of these other allotments, it might not be the best idea.

What’s a Private Browser?

Right. Good question. Before we go on, let’s talk briefly about what I mean by a private browser. If the term “Tor Browser” means anything to you, it’s safe to say you can skip this. If you’re under the impression we’ll be discussing the brother of a deified superhero, keep reading.

A private browser, or the private function on your regular browser, allows you to search the web without leaving any traces behind. In a sense, you’re kind of like a ninja. But, more appropriately, it’s kind of like being able to steal from the cookie jar without leaving any crumbs. Why a cookie jar? Because when you visit websites you leave behind a virtual trail of crumbs, literally called cookies (yes that’s the technical term), that keeps track of where you’ve been.

Ever wonder how one moment you’re searching for a new sofa, and the next minute you’re on Facebook and “randomly” get a seemingly prophetic advertisement thrown in your face for the local furniture store? Yeah, it wasn’t random. Those cookies allow companies and sites to advertise to you later if you don’t complete a purchase on their site. I know, those sneaky bastards!

That Sucks, But What’s It Got to Do With Freelancing?

Well, young grasshopper, listen here. There’s a way to search the web without leaving these crumbs behind. Indeed, you can browse the web like a shadow in the night. I mean, your internet service provider (ISP) – like Verizon or whoever – still knows where you’re going, so…you know…keep that in mind. However, you don’t accumulate a search history, your pages aren’t saved unless you bookmark them, and the sites you go to don’t track you.

I know, I know, what’s the point, right? Well, there are some things I’ve had to research in the past that have warranted some, ehm, interesting advertisements later on. But it’s not just about advertisements. Oh, no. Some of these sites have ways of getting your phone number and email address without you ever entering them. (I know. Sneaky bastards.)

Case Study

I feel like I’m losing some of you, so if you’re currently staring at the screen like a floating goldfish, prepare to be revived.

One time I had to do a ton (I mean an inhuman amount) of research for a book on bankruptcy. Now, I’ve been broke, but I’ve never filed for bankruptcy, and I’m not an attorney. Therefore, it meant I had to do a crapload of research.

Over time, I started getting emails about debt counseling, bankruptcy alternatives, and ways to save my business from seizure. (What, now?) I brushed it off and continued my research, which had delved into the area of the things you can and can’t lose if you file for Chapter 7. (Don’t worry about it – long and boring.)

Soon, I started getting phone calls. And not just on my cell phone. At home. As in my parents’ home. Needless to say, it was an awkward conversation for awhile until I had to explain that, no, I wasn’t going into bankruptcy, I really was okay, the bridge was not going to be my future home, and my car was totally not getting repossessed.

The CSI Rule

I have a rule that I like to call the CSI rule. If I was on an episode of CSI, and my dearest friend was murdered, and I was the last person to see her alive, is there anything in my search history that would make them suspect me? Well, if familial humiliation and obnoxious advertisements aren’t enough to make you search privately, this one sure as heck should.

Clearly, you’re probably not going to end up in a situation like that. However, it’s something to consider. Crazy things happen in the world all the time, and the last thing I want an investigator (or employer or whoever else) thinking about me is that I’m broke and desperate and looking into bankruptcy. Or looking for a private investigator. Or doing any number of things that some of my research would lead someone to think I’m doing.

How Do I Search in This Magical Way?

If you’re using Firefox, simply right-click on the Firefox logo and hit “New Private Window”. Currently, it’s got a cute purple masquerade mask for an icon. On Chrome, it’s called “Incognito” and it will say “Open an Incognito Window”. It’s got a cool spy-looking dude. As for other browsers, I don’t use them, so I don’t know how to get a private window open, but the process is usually the same.

Another option is to download the Tor Browser, sometimes called the Onion Browser. This is a completely separate browser that doesn’t track anything you do. You’re essentially anonymous to the web, and you can search for whatever you want.

Applications to Fiction

If you write fiction, this feature becomes particularly useful. Why? You’d be surprised how many weird, disturbing, or taboo things I’ve had to look up when writing fiction. How much does a human head weigh? What are some of the tactics of serial killers? Of the serial killers who haven’t been caught, how did they get away with it? Lots of odd things you probably don’t want in your search history. Particularly if you write thrillers or murder mysteries.

In summary, I think the best thing you can do for your sanity and future self is to use a private browsing method to do your research. Doing so not only helps you avoid annoying advertisements and questionable looks from people, but it also helps you maintain the anonymity of your clients. Sometimes you have to research things that your clients might ask you not to divulge, so it’s always good to have that extra layer of protection.

Have you ever received odd advertisements or questionable looks for something you had to research? Let us know in the comments.

]]>https://courtneyherz.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/why-i-do-my-freelance-writing-research-on-private-browsers/feed/2Angry female with a binocularscourtneyherz